Vegas won because Stone's power-play equalizer at 5:33 of the third broke Utah's two-goal resistance and triggered a 3-0 period that the Knights' 56.9% faceoff dominance and 52-hit forecheck made irreversible.
β‘TURNING POINT
Stone's power-play goal at 5:33 of the third erased Utah's 2-1 lead and reset the game to even at a moment when Vegas held every structural edge. With the tie restored, Utah's defensive structure β already absorbing 52 hits and losing the dot 56.9% to 43.1% β had no platform left to rebuild momentum, and Vegas scored again 107 seconds later.
πWHY VGK WON (ranked by impact β most decisive first)
1
Faceoff dominance: 56.9% (33 of 58 won) β Vegas controlled puck possession at every restart, generating sustained offensive-zone time in the third period when the game was decided.
2
Special teams conversion: 1/4 PP (25.0%) vs. Utah's 0/4 (0.0%) β the lone power-play goal was the turning point goal; Utah's penalty kill surrendered the lead at the worst possible leverage point.
3
Physical dominance: 52 hits vs. 30 β Vegas' forecheck wore Utah down structurally across 60 minutes, compressing Utah's transition game and forcing 19 giveaways.
πWHY UTA LOST (ranked by impact β biggest failure first)
1
Power play failure: 0/4 (0.0%) β four opportunities converted zero goals; in a game decided by one power-play goal, Utah's inability to capitalize on equal opportunity was the margin.
2
Giveaways: 19 vs. Vegas' 16 β Utah's puck management broke down under sustained physical pressure, directly feeding Vegas' transition chances in the third.
3
Third-period shot collapse: UTA managed 0 goals on 33 total shots while Vegas scored three times in the final frame β Utah's offensive structure disappeared precisely when defensive structure needed support.
Three Stars
Nic Dowd1st
VGK, C
1G+2TOI 10:33
Scored the go-ahead goal at 7:20 of the third and finished +2, delivering the decisive lead on just 10:33 of ice time.
Colton Sissons2nd
VGK, C
1G 1A2P+3TOI 13:29
Scored the first Vegas equalizer and assisted the go-ahead goal, directly connecting two of Vegas' four scores while posting the game's best plus-minus.
Carter Hart3rd
VGK, G
SV% .939 on 33 shots
Held Utah to two goals on 33 shots, providing the foundation Vegas needed while the offense found its footing.
